Artificial leg.



E. W. BABCOCK.

ARTIFICIAL LEG..

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 191.6.

1,232, 1 73. Patented July 3, 1917.

E W .Babcock UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA IIIIIZILIIA..IVI` BABCOCK,

OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR`OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN E. KITCHEN, 0F LORAIN, OHIO. l.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Application led July 24, 1916. Serial No. 110,830. v

[o all whom 4t may concern:

Be it known that LELisI-IA W." Bancocn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lorain, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented` certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to artificial limbs,

and has for its main object to provide an artificial foot constructed on the same general principle as that disclosed in Patent No. 1,198,399, granted to me September 12th., 1916, but simplified in design for the' purpose of reducing the weight of the foot. j In order that the invention may be clearly understood, the same will be hereinafter fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which simply illustrate the invention, and the novel features thereof will be distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

1n the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artificial foot constructed in accordance with my invention,

v Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken 2 2 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents on line 'the lower portion of a leg, which may be attached to the `wearer in any suitable manner. This leg may be constructed of aluminum, pressed fiber or other suitable material. Formed integrally with the leg is an upper foot member 2. The forward end of this upper foot member is reduced in width thereby leaving side spaces 3, and terminates in a pair of depending circular lugs 4. A sole member 5, which is adapted to complete the lower part of the foot, terminates at its forward. end in a pair of circular upturned ears 6 corresponding in size to the lugs 4, against which said ears fit. A toe piece 7 is adapted to complete the forward end of the foot, and its thickened sides 8 fit against the ears 6. The ears 6 of the sole member and the sides 8 of the toe piece entirely ll the spaces 3, and these parts are pivotally connected to the' lugs 4; of the upper foot member by means of a pin 9. A suitable flat spring 10, fixed tothe toe piece at 11 and having its other end engage the sole member 5, tends to keep the toe piece Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 191.7.

in normal position. Cushion bumpers, such as 12, project from the sole member at the joint, to prevent the edge 13 of the toe piece making anoise by striking the opposite edge of the sole member.

The weight of the wearer' is resiliently supported upon a suitable coiled spring 14, which is arranged between the heel 15 of the sole member 5 and a bar 16 extending from the forward to the rear wall of the leg. In order to provide convenient means for placing said coiled spring in position, and also to provide means for readily adjusting the tension thereof to suit the weight of the wearer, the following construction is employed. The heel of the sole member .is provided with an opening 17, from which projects an internally threaded boss 18 for receiving a tubular plug 19. Said coiled spring rests within this tubular plug, and its upper end is held in alinement therewith by means of a centering boss 2O depending from the before mentioned bar 16. Said tubular plug is screwed into or out of the internally threaded boss 18 by the use of any suitable tool which may be inserted in the square hole 21.

The movement of the upper foot member 2 with relation to the sole member 5, during the walking action, is limited by means of a nib or stop 22, which projects inwardly from the raised portion -3 of the sole member and slides in a groove 24e formed in the rear wall of the upper foot member. This part being cut back at 25 for accommodating the raised portion 23 of the sole member. A flange 26, at the lower end of said groove, is adapted to engage the stop 22, when the wearer is taking a step, and thus limit the movement of the upper foot member with relation to the sole member. A cushion of suitable material may be provided at 27 for deadening the sound.

It is thought that the action of this foot will be understood and its advantages appreciated without further explanation.

Having fully described my invention, what 1 claim is:

1. In an artificial limb, the combination of a leg portion having an. upper foot member, the upper foot member having depending lugs at its forward end, a sole member, the sole member having upturned ears at oneend, a toe piece, the toe piece being pivotally connected to said ears and said lugs, a spring for keep# ing the toe piece in normal position, Cushion bum-pers projeetin'g fromtlie sole member adapted' to prevent the toe piece striking seid sole member When returning to normal position, and means for resiliently supporting the free end of the upper 'foot member' from the sole member, substantiallyV asdescribed.

2. In an articial limb, the combination of an upper foot member, a' sole member, the sole member being pivotally connected to the forward end of the upper foot member,

(.peskv of this pateiittmay be obtained.v for'fvve cents elcli,

WaShngtomD'. Cl

means :for resiliently supporting the free end of the upper'foot member from the outer foot member, the rear end of the upper foot In testimony whereof I affix my signture.

ELISHA WILLIAM BABCOGK.

by addressing the Commissioner of tents, 

